Let’s face it; the last thing any of us ever wants to do is pay a lot of money for our car insurance! It’s one of those motoring costs that we can’t avoid, at least not if we wish to stay on the right side of the law.

One thing my friends will tell you is that I can be a bit of a cheapskate. I don’t like spending money unless it’s necessary. What surprises me about other people is they enjoy wasting cash needlessly. And one such example is with car insurance, believe it or not!

Here are some tried and tested methods I use to keep my insurance costs down. Warning: some of these ideas may surprise you! Check them out:

You might enjoy driving a Ford Mustang with a V8 propelling you to your destinations. But, do you love it enough to pay a silly amount of money for your car insurance?

One of my golden rules for cheapskate car insurance is to buy cars that don’t cost the Earth to insure. I’m talking about brands like Citroen, Volkswagen and Volvo. Not ones like Porsche and Rolls-Royce!

On the same thread, you can save even more by only sticking to used cars. Brand new ones are likely to cost more to insure, despite being the same make and model. That’s because they cost more to repair if an accident occurs. At least, from an insurer’s point of view.

Limit your risk of having an accident

Car insurance companies will ask you several questions to assess your risk level. After all; they don’t have a standard price they give to everyone! Here are some practical ways to drive down the cost of your premiums:

Don’t drive as much. It’s a fact that the less driving you do, the less likely you are to have a collision;

Avoid high-risk times when you do drive. That means don’t get behind the wheel during rush hour or in the evening;

Be frugal with your driving. When you have more time to make decisions on the road, you’re less likely to end up doing something stupid.

You might be wondering how an insurer will know when you drive your car. That brings me swiftly onto the next point…

Consider having a “black box” insurance policy

Telematic insurance policies are popular in many parts of the world. They work via smartphone apps or devices that plug into your car. It may seem a bit “big brother” to you. But, if you’re a careful driver, technology can help you prove that to your insurance company.

The result? You will get rewarded with cheaper insurance premiums. And that’s what your ultimate goal is here today.

Make insurance companies work for your money

Don’t just phone up a couple of companies. Use the Internet to help you seek out the best insurance policies. There are plenty of comparison websites out there. And companies that aren’t on them will still have online quote facilities.

Many will ask you what your best quote is. Make these businesses work for your money. Only then will you find an ideal yet cheap car insurance policy.

Jyotsna Ramani is a passionate writer and an avid globetrotter. She had a knack for writing since her early years, though that was mostly letters to her penpals and jotting her thoughts down in her "Dear Diary". Over the years, she realized how her hobby could turn into a full time career and she started writing web content, books and pieces for local magazines. There has been no looking back ever since.